Your floating Hotel on the Canals and Rivers of the UK

News about Reed Boats in 2008.

April 2008.

"Through the Bleak Mid-Winter" (Er Spring!)

The most noticeable feature about our cruises so far this year has been the weather. Twice we have woken up to find all around us covered with snow!! We walked up to early Easter Communion at Braunston past fields white with snow. Then latter on we started up Bosely locks on the Macclesfield canal through a snow covered landscape as you can see in the picture alongside.

While guests have been lovely and warm inside by the fire on the motor or in their centrally heated cabins on the butty, there is something nice about watching the hail stones falling when you are warm and dry!! the crew have steered though hail storms and freezing rain on numerous occasions in the last month.

Propellor drops off!

The boats have run very well with just the one failure. On the second morning of a cruise through Stoke on Trent the propellor came adrift!! We had emergency repair work which enabled us to limp back to the dry dock at Stone. Here the very skilled boat firm actually made from a piece of brass a new nut and fitted it in the course of the morning. We then set off again.

By doing one day of non-stop travel well into the dark we were able to get back on schedule just one day late. Our guests fortunately being able to rearrange their affairs to stay on an extra day and us having vacancies the following cruise. We were able to give them an extra free day to finish their planned cruise as they specially wanted to experience the Peak Forest canal.

Writer with us from the Sunday Times.

At the end of March we took advantage of empty cabins to host a correspondent from the Sunday Times for a short cruise with his son. A photographer also spend a full morning with us as you can see in this picture. The result was an article in the Sunday Times on April 27th. It was interesting to see what he had to say from his totally independant point of view. As soon as possible we will get a copy on this web site.

New Cruises.

We were able to take advantage of circumstances which forced us to alter some cruises to try the experience of offering some cruises in May and June where if you stay for moiré than one cruise you can start and end at the same place with either free car parking or free transfers to and from the railway or coach station. Full details of these cruises are now on the routes section of this web site. I will await with interest to see if after so many requests for them they are booked.

Charter Bookings,

Remember we still have one or two weeks in May & June, and a few more in September and October when we can still charter the boat to let your group have exclusive use. Interested? Then phone me for details.

Newsletter for January / Newsletter for March

Newsletters for 2004 / Newsletters for 2005 / Newsletters for 2006 / Newsletters for 2007

If you have any questions then do ring us on 07977 229103
or email us at martinreed@reedboats.co.uk